Barron started his first full season as Pools youth team coach yesterday determined to impose his ideas on the fresh crop of talent making their way to Victoria Park.

The former club captain is fresh from studying on the first part of his UEFA A badge coaching licence - a course which saw him take to the classroom alongside a host of household names.

Barron's fellow students on the two week course in Lilleshall included the likes of Manchester United legends Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, along with Tottenham Hotspur assistant boss Gus Poyet.

And Barron insists he picked up some tips from the big bucks Premiership stars – something which can only benefit the fresh batch of YTS apprentices at the Vic.

"There were quite a few big names on the course and all of them were really friendly," said Barron.

"They were there for the right reasons and they wanted to learn how to coach.

"A lot of us on the course had not played to the same standard they had but they had the same reservations about coaching as us.

"It was a good experience and there was a lot of group work in the classroom where we heard stories about what they do at Man United.

"A lot of the stuff is what you expect, but not all of it is by the FA coaching manual.

"Gary Neville was saying they don't really practice set pieces. They only practice them if they concede a few goals from set pieces, so they don't do that many!"

He added: "I am quite excited about my first full season because I feel like I am becoming part of the coaching scene now.

"I am looking forward to getting out there and starting from scratch with 10 or 11 new lads and putting my ideas into practice. I want to mould those lads into what we want at Hartlepool United."

Barron's side begin their pre-season campaign on July 18 with a trip to Gateshead College. That is just one of a series of games against North-East opposition, with Pools also making trips to Newcastle (July 23) and Sunderland (August 9).

The youth team will also take part in an army training camp in Devon, before the highlight of their pre-season schedule – a trip to the Milk Cup, in Northern Ireland.

Pools face County Londonderry and Brazilian side Fluminese in the group stages, before potential knock-out games against the likes of Manchester United, Hertha Berlin and Ipswich Town.

Meanwhile, Bradford City have agreed a deal with former Pools defender Graeme Lee.

The 30-year-old becomes the third ex-Pools player at Valley Parade. Full-back Paul Arnison agreed a deal with Bradford last month, while midfielder Lee Bullock hooked up with Stuart McCall's side in January.